Child Safety Policy - Template, Sample Form to Fill out Pro · AU-law

CHILD SAFETY AND WELLBEING POLICY

________ (ACN ________) ("Organisation")

ABN ________

Date of approval: ________
Version: ________

§ 1 — PURPOSE OF THIS POLICY

At ________ (we, our, us), we are committed to the safety and wellbeing of children and young people. We are committed to providing an environment that is safe for children and young people, and to ensuring that this is reflected in all aspects of our operations.

This Child Safety and Wellbeing Policy (Policy) sets out the general principles that guide the management of child and youth safety at our Organisation, and reflects our commitment to creating and maintaining a child safe culture.

We have developed this Policy to help our Workers understand and manage child and youth safety, to set a framework to ensure that we provide a safe environment for children and young people, and to ensure that we meet our objectives and comply with all of our legal and regulatory obligations in relation to these matters.

§ 2 — STATUS OF THIS POLICY

(a) This Policy does not form part of any contract of employment or any other contract for work or services.

(b) We may vary, replace or withdraw this Policy from time to time. Where this Policy is varied, the current version will prevail.

(c) Where any conflict arises between this Policy and an applicable law, the applicable law will prevail to the extent of the inconsistency.

§ 3 — APPLICABLE LAWS AND STANDARDS

(a) We are committed to complying with all applicable laws, regulations, codes of practice and safety guidance in each jurisdiction in which we operate. This Policy is designed to comply with, and operate consistently with, the following laws (as applicable to our operations and amended from time to time):

- the Family Law Act 1975 (Cth);

- the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) and the Australian Privacy Principles;

- the Online Safety Act 2021 (Cth);

- the Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth);

- the child protection, mandatory reporting, working with children check, reportable conduct and child safe standards legislation applicable in our principal place of operation, being ________; and

- any further laws specified here: ________.

(b) This Policy may also align with, or comply with, the following external policies, standards, codes of practice or safety guidance:

________

§ 4 — NATIONAL PRINCIPLES FOR CHILD SAFE ORGANISATIONS

(a) We support the National Principles for Child Safe Organisations (National Principles) and endeavour to embed them throughout our Organisation. This Policy is aligned with the National Principles.

(b) The National Principles require that:

1. Child safety and wellbeing is embedded in organisational leadership, governance and culture.

2. Children and young people are informed about their rights, participate in decisions affecting them and are taken seriously.

3. Families and communities are informed and involved in promoting child safety and wellbeing.

4. Equity is upheld and diverse needs respected in policy and practice.

5. People working with children and young people are suitable and supported to reflect child safety and wellbeing values in practice.

6. Processes to respond to complaints and concerns are child focused.

7. Staff and volunteers are equipped with the knowledge, skills and awareness to keep children and young people safe through ongoing education and training.

8. Physical and online environments promote safety and wellbeing while minimising the opportunity for children and young people to be harmed.

9. Implementation of the National Principles is regularly reviewed and improved.

10. Policies and procedures document how the Organisation is safe for children and young people.

§ 5 — OUR OTHER POLICIES

In addition to this Policy, our Workers are required to be familiar with, and to comply with, all other workplace policies that may apply from time to time, including:

________

§ 6 — WHO THIS POLICY APPLIES TO

(a) This Policy applies to any people who perform work for ________, including all directors, officers, managers, board members, employees, contractors, subcontractors, employees of our contractors and subcontractors, apprentices, trainees, volunteers, interns, work experience students, labour hire workers and outworkers, and any other people who perform work for or on behalf of our Organisation (Workers).

(b) We are committed to ensuring the safety and wellbeing of all Workers and visitors to our Organisation. This Policy specifically addresses our commitment to the safety and wellbeing of children and young people. Throughout this Policy, the terms "youth", "young person", "child" and "children" refer generally to people under 18 years of age.

(c) This Policy applies to all activities in our Organisation that involve children, or that result in or relate to contact with children.

(d) This Policy is intended to help manage the safety and wellbeing of any children that come into contact with our Organisation, whether they are receiving services from us, are the children of someone who is receiving services from us, are the children of our Workers, or come into contact with us in any other way.

(e) We require all Workers to sign an acknowledgement of this Policy to confirm in writing that they accept and will act in accordance with it.

§ 7 — OUR COMMITMENT TO THE SAFETY OF CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE

(a) We are committed to the safety and wellbeing of children and young people.

(b) We are committed to providing an environment that is safe for children and young people, and to ensuring that this is reflected in all aspects of our operations.

(c) We value and respect children and young people and welcome them regardless of their abilities, age, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, ethnicity, disability, or socio-economic, religious or cultural background.

(d) Bullying, harassment, discrimination and abuse will not be tolerated at our Organisation.

(e) Safeguarding children from harm and abuse is an essential responsibility of our Organisation. We are committed to ensuring that any child who comes into contact with our Organisation or our services is properly safeguarded. Every person subject to this Policy must play an active role in ensuring that children are properly safeguarded.

(f) We believe that no child or young person should experience abuse or harm, and we are committed to their protection. This Policy provides guidance and overarching principles to those who represent us as Workers, to guide our approach to child protection and safeguarding.

(g) It is our intention that a child safe culture be embedded at all levels of our Organisation, including in our leadership and governance and amongst all of our Workers.

(h) When dealing with concerns about a child's safety or wellbeing, we are guided by a consideration of what is in the best interests of the child.

(i) We strive to:

- ensure that our Workers have the knowledge, skills and awareness to keep children safe;

- ensure that any Workers who work with children have the necessary skills, attributes, experience and qualifications to uphold this Policy and provide the support and supervision that children require;

- ensure that any children who come into contact with our Organisation and who have concerns about their safety or need assistance know where to go and who to talk to;

- ensure that any children who come into contact with our Organisation and who have concerns about their safety feel comfortable seeking assistance;

- maintain the safety and security of any of our facilities or environments that may be accessed by children (including any online facilities, environments, websites or platforms);

- promote a workplace that values diversity and inclusion;

- where appropriate, involve children and their families in decisions that affect them;

- promote a culture of child safety at all levels of our Organisation;

- take any allegations or complaints in relation to child safety seriously, and respond promptly and appropriately; and

- report any allegations or concerns to relevant authorities whenever appropriate or required.

§ 8 — OUR COMMITMENT TO SUPPORTING THE DIVERSE AND UNIQUE IDENTITIES OF CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE

(a) We are committed to providing a culturally safe environment in which the diverse and unique identities and experiences of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and young people are respected and valued.

(b) We actively encourage and support children's ability to express their culture and exercise their cultural rights.

(c) We have embedded strategies within our Organisation that equip all members to acknowledge and appreciate the strengths and importance of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture to the wellbeing and safety of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and young people.

(d) We adopt measures to ensure that racism is identified, confronted and not tolerated within our Organisation. Any instances of racism are addressed with appropriate consequences.

(e) We actively support and facilitate the participation and inclusion of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, young people and their families within our Organisation.

(f) All of our policies, procedures, systems and processes work together to create a culturally safe and inclusive environment that meets the needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, young people and their families.

(g) Our Workers must encourage and support children to freely express their culture and enjoy their cultural rights.

(h) Workers must actively support and facilitate the participation and inclusion of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and their families within our Organisation.

(i) Racism is strictly prohibited within our Organisation. If racism occurs, we will respond as follows:

________

(j) Our leadership is responsible for helping everyone involved with our Organisation to acknowledge and appreciate the strengths of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture and to understand its importance to the wellbeing and safety of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and young people.

§ 9 — CODE OF CONDUCT

(a) We maintain a code of conduct for working with children and young people, as set out below (Code of Conduct). We expect all Workers to understand this Code of Conduct, and to ask a Responsible Person if they need more information or have any questions.

(b) Caring for children and young people brings additional responsibilities for our Workers. All Workers are responsible for promoting and protecting the safety and wellbeing of children and young people by:

- adhering to this Policy at all times and taking all reasonable steps to ensure the safety and protection of children and young people;

- treating everyone, including those of different race, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, social class, physical ability or attributes and religious beliefs, with respect and honesty, and ensuring equity is upheld;

- being a positive role model to children and young people in all conduct with them;

- setting clear boundaries about appropriate behaviour between themselves and children and young people;

- listening and responding appropriately to the views and concerns of children and young people;

- being alert to bullying behaviours and responding promptly and appropriately;

- ensuring another adult is always present or in sight when conducting one-to-one consulting, coaching, instruction or other activity;

- being alert to children and young people who have been harmed or may be at risk of harm, and reporting this quickly to the relevant child protection authority and, where required, the police;

- responding quickly, fairly and transparently to any complaints made by a child, young person or their parent or guardian; and

- encouraging children and young people to have a say on issues that are important to them.

(c) Workers must not:

- engage in rough physical games;

- develop any 'special' relationships with children and young people that could be seen as favouritism, such as the offering of gifts or special treatment;

- do things of a personal nature that a child or young person can do for themselves, such as toileting or changing clothes;

- discriminate against any child or young person because of age, gender, gender identity, cultural background, religion, disability, vulnerability or sexuality;

- use any inappropriate, abusive or sexualised language or behaviour in the presence of a child; or

- have any unauthorised contact with children, including online or by other electronic means.

(d) Breaches or suspected breaches of the Code of Conduct will be reported as soon as practicable to management, either in person or using the contact details in this Policy.

(e) Breaches or suspected breaches of the Code of Conduct will be taken seriously and dealt with promptly, fairly and transparently, having regard to the rules of procedural fairness.

(f) Any Worker who breaches the Code of Conduct may face disciplinary action and, depending on the severity of the breach, may have their employment or engagement terminated, and the matter may be referred to relevant authorities.

§ 10 — GENERAL WORKER RESPONSIBILITIES

(a) Our Workers must uphold our Organisation's values in accordance with this Policy and demonstrate behaviour that is consistent with this Policy and our values. Our Workers must be proactive about upholding and promoting our values and this Policy, including by:

- remaining alert and aware of possible safeguarding risks to children;

- guarding children against harmful environments with appropriate actions (for example, adequate supervision or ensuring safe environments);

- taking positive steps to maintain the safety and wellbeing of children engaging with our Organisation;

- reporting concerns expeditiously and appropriately, in line with child protection procedures;

- understanding the duty to report specific concerns (and understanding how this interplays with confidentiality);

- challenging any inappropriate or harmful behaviour of any other adult and reporting this accordingly;

- acting appropriately in the presence of children;

- not taking any inappropriate risks;

- not smoking, drinking alcohol or taking any form of illicit substance in the presence of children;

- ensuring that any children who come into contact with our Organisation or access our services understand their rights and responsibilities;

- communicating with children clearly and respectfully, using language that they can understand and that is appropriate for their age and level of development; and

- ensuring that any children who come into contact with our Organisation or access our services are supported and get any necessary assistance with exercising their rights and responsibilities.

(b) Our Workers are responsible for ensuring that they personally comply with all applicable laws in the State or Territory where they are based, including any applicable Commonwealth laws.

§ 11 — SPECIFIC RESPONSIBILITIES

The following Workers have the specific responsibilities in relation to child safety and wellbeing as set out below:

________

§ 12 — RESPONSIBLE PERSON

Any question, report or concern in relation to the safeguarding of children should be shared with the following person (Responsible Person):

Name: ________

Position: ________

Email: ________

Telephone: ________

§ 13 — MANDATORY REPORTING

(a) Certain Workers within our Organisation may have mandatory reporting obligations under applicable laws. We are committed to ensuring that all Workers understand their reporting obligations and comply with them.

(b) A mandatory reporter is a person who, in the course of their work, is legally required to report any reasonable suspicion that a child or young person is being, or is at risk of being, abused or neglected to the relevant authorities.

(c) Where any Worker forms a reasonable suspicion that a child has been, is being, or is at risk of being abused or neglected, they must report this suspicion to the relevant child protection authority and to the Responsible Person as soon as practicable. The relevant child protection reporting line in our jurisdiction is: ________.

(d) A reasonable suspicion may arise from a child's disclosure, the disclosure of another person, observable signs of harm, or other information that causes concern about the safety or wellbeing of a child.

(e) Workers are not required to investigate or substantiate a suspicion before making a report. The obligation to report arises once a reasonable suspicion has been formed.

(f) Making a report does not remove the Worker's broader responsibilities under this Policy to take any other appropriate steps to safeguard the child concerned.

(g) A Worker who makes a report in good faith will be supported by our Organisation and will not be subject to any disciplinary action or detriment for having made the report.

(h) The identity of a person who makes a report will be kept confidential to the extent permitted or required by law.

(i) Where any Worker is unsure whether they are required to make a report, or how to make a report, they should consult with the Responsible Person as soon as practicable.

(j) In addition to any obligation to report to the relevant child protection authority, where a child is at immediate risk of serious harm, any adult present should call 000.

(k) Workers must also be aware of, and comply with, any reportable conduct scheme and any obligation to report a belief on reasonable grounds that a sexual offence has been committed against a child, in accordance with the laws applicable in our jurisdiction.

(l) All reports and any related records will be documented and stored securely in accordance with our data protection and privacy policy and the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth).

(m) We will keep our Workers informed of their mandatory reporting obligations through ongoing training and education, and will ensure that information about how to make a report is readily accessible to all Workers.

(n) Failure to comply with mandatory reporting obligations may result in disciplinary action and may also constitute an offence under applicable laws.

§ 14 — RECRUITMENT AND SCREENING

(a) In accordance with applicable legislation, we require that any Workers who work with children or young people hold a current, valid and "not prohibited" Working with Children Check (or equivalent clearance) in all relevant jurisdictions before commencing such work, and maintain that clearance throughout their engagement.

(b) To ensure we engage the most suitable people to work with children and young people, we have the following recruitment and screening practices in place:

- our commitment to child safety is included in all job and volunteer advertisements;

- clear position descriptions that include our commitment to child safety and wellbeing;

- written applications from applicants;

- interviews that use behavioural questions to assess the applicant's knowledge of child safeguarding;

- verification of Working with Children Checks, identity, qualifications and, where appropriate, National Police Checks; and

- at least two referee checks.

§ 15 — HOW WE ENSURE STAFF ARE SUITABLE AND SUPPORTED

We strive to ensure that Workers who work with children and young people are suitable and supported to reflect child safety and wellbeing values in practice. We do this using the following measures:

________

§ 16 — CONFIDENTIALITY AND DATA PROTECTION

(a) All personal information we process relating to children will be collected, used, disclosed and stored in accordance with our data protection and privacy policy, the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) and the Australian Privacy Principles.

(b) Personal information will only be used or disclosed for the purposes for which it was collected, or as otherwise permitted or required by law (including for the purpose of safeguarding a child).

§ 17 — RESPONDING TO A CHILD SAFETY CONCERN

(a) We aim to provide accessible and responsive complaints management processes that are focused on the needs of children and young people. We do this in the following manner:

________

(b) Where a child is at immediate risk of serious harm, any adult present should call 000. Thereafter, the Responsible Person should be contacted as soon as is reasonably practicable.

(c) Where there is a safeguarding concern but no immediate risk of serious harm, the adult who has heard or witnessed the concern should consult with the Responsible Person as soon as practicable and by no later than the end of that same day.

(d) Where any child makes a disclosure relating to harm or abuse to an adult, it is important for that adult to:

- listen calmly and carefully, showing that the child's views are taken seriously;

- provide an appropriate and honest level of reassurance;

- avoid interrogating children and asking probing, intrusive and/or leading questions;

- avoid making false promises regarding secrets and confidentiality with the child (because any concern of abuse or harm must be shared with the Responsible Person and any subsequent safeguarding referral);

- make a confidential written record of the discussion either during the discussion or immediately afterwards, including the key details of the disclosure together with any relevant times, dates, places and people concerned (audio and video recordings of children making disclosures should be avoided); and

- refer all relevant information to the Responsible Person as soon as practicable afterwards, and by no later than the end of the day.

(e) Upon receipt of any safeguarding concern, the Responsible Person will consult with any other relevant persons and will make any appropriate referrals to the relevant authorities.

§ 18 — REPORTING CONCERNS ABOUT OTHER ADULTS

(a) Where any person has a concern regarding the conduct of an adult connected to the Organisation that poses, or may pose, a safeguarding risk to children, such as:

- harming a child either physically or emotionally;

- exposing a child to behaviour that may cause physical or emotional harm; or

- engaging in criminal activity concerning a child,

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(b) The appropriate steps following a safeguarding referral in respect of an individual connected to the Organisation will usually include one or more of the following:

- further initial enquiries;

- escalation to the applicable authority for assessment and/or the police for investigation;

- instigation of any appropriate disciplinary or formal investigation processes and suspension of any person concerned within the Organisation; and

- a referral to any relevant regulatory bodies.

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(d) Any person within the Organisation against whom allegations are made will be treated fairly. All enquiries, investigations and decisions taken will be just and fair, with the safety of any child concerned at the heart of the process.

(e) Any person within the Organisation who makes an allegation against another person within the Organisation will be listened to, taken seriously and treated fairly and justly throughout the process of enquiries, investigations and decision making.

§ 19 — REPORTING AND RESPONDING TO GENERAL COMPLAINTS OR FEEDBACK

(a) Providing opportunities for complaints and feedback ensures that children, young people and their families feel valued and respected, and enables us to improve the quality of our service. Children, young people and their families are informed that they can provide feedback or make a complaint when they join our Organisation.

(b) Compliments, complaints or feedback can be provided verbally or in writing to any Worker, or directly to management by telephone, email or post, using the following details:

________

(c) We will deal with all complaints and feedback received from children, young people or their families promptly, sensitively and fairly. We will:

- listen to the complaint or feedback;

- make a record of the complaint if received verbally;

- advise of the time expected for an outcome;

- where a Worker receives a complaint, ensure they forward it to management as soon as possible;

- have management respond to the complainant with an outcome within the following timeframe: ________;

- clearly document and securely store decisions and actions taken in response to complaints and feedback; and

- ensure that procedural fairness is followed at all times.

(d) If the child, young person or their family is not satisfied with the outcome of the complaints process, they may contact:

- the Australian Human Rights Commission (online: www.humanrights.gov.au; tel: 1300 656 419); and/or

- the relevant State or Territory child safety or child protection oversight body: ________.

§ 20 — MANAGING RISKS POSED BY OTHER CHILDREN

(a) It is important for all adults engaged by us to recognise that children can face harm from their peers. This commonly takes the form of bullying, which may be defined as behaviour that is:

- repeated; and

- intended to hurt somebody, either physically or emotionally.

(b) Bullying can sometimes be motivated by prejudices based on certain groups, for example gender, race, religion, disability or sexual orientation. Bullying can often include:

- physical harm perpetrated against another child;

- name calling and threats; and

- cyberbullying (threats and abusive comments made via technology).

(c) Any instance of bullying, or concern relating to possible bullying between children at any event or activity arranged by us, will usually be dealt with in the first instance as follows:

________

(d) Where any behaviour amounting to bullying continues, the following steps will be taken:

________

(e) All steps in relation to the prevention or management of bullying should be taken in consultation with the Responsible Person.

§ 21 — STAFF KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND AWARENESS

We have strategies in place to supervise, train and support Workers to understand this Policy, their mandatory reporting obligations, how to build culturally safe environments, and their responsibilities to create a child safe and friendly environment. Our strategies include:

Training:

- ensuring all Workers read and understand any relevant mandatory information or guidelines published in their jurisdiction;

- requiring regular training in relation to child safety; and

- including child safety as a standing item on meeting agendas.

Supervision:

- regular supervision sessions that include a focus on child safety and wellbeing.

Support:

- an induction process for all new Workers, including a copy of this Policy;

- regular performance appraisals that discuss child safeguarding; and

- appointing a child safety officer who has an educative role within our Organisation.

§ 22 — SAFE PHYSICAL AND ONLINE ENVIRONMENTS

We are committed to promoting child safety and wellbeing in physical and online environments in order to reduce the risk of harm. We use a variety of measures to ensure that our physical and online environments promote safety and wellbeing while minimising the opportunity for children and young people to be harmed. This includes:

________

§ 23 — EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES

Responsibilities and Planning

(a) We may arrange the following types of events and/or activities that could involve children:

________

(b) The Responsible Person holds ultimate responsibility for the safety and appropriateness of each event, but may appoint a delegate for some responsibilities for the purpose of a specific event.

(c) Although the Responsible Person and any appointed delegates hold ultimate responsibility for overseeing safety for events and activities, all individuals subject to this Policy must also play an active role in ensuring the safety of children at all times.

(d) For certain types of events or activities, we may issue an additional code of conduct, policy or specific requirements applicable to that occasion. Any such additional documentation will be made available to all those concerned (Workers, parents, guardians and others) in advance, and must be read carefully and adhered to.

Venues

(a) The location for any events or activities held by us will be properly risk assessed for suitability and safety for children. Fire and safety procedures and precautions will be made clear to all those involved.

First Aid

(a) If an ambulance is required, call 000. A manager or supervisor must be notified if an ambulance has been called.

(b) Any accident or injury concerning a child should be brought to the attention of the nearest first aider and thereafter formally reported to the Responsible Person.

Consent Forms

(a) We will always obtain written consent from a parent or guardian for any event that takes place with children in attendance without their responsible parent or guardian present. Consent will be obtained via:

________

(b) Consent forms will include emergency contact details and will set out any specific safety needs or requirements for children.

(c) All consent forms will be kept secure and stored in accordance with our data protection and privacy policy.

Supervision

(a) For most activities and events, our procedure for supervision of children is as follows:

________

(b) Where we hold any events or activities at which a child attends alongside their parent or guardian, parents and guardians should ensure that children are properly supervised.

§ 24 — MANAGING BEHAVIOUR OF CHILDREN GENERALLY

(a) Whenever any adult engaged by us is faced with challenging or inappropriate behaviour from a child, or with conflict between children, they must:

- treat each child fairly and equally;

- approach the situation in a calm and neutral manner;

- only ever use physical restraint or intervention in order to protect the immediate safety of a person, for example to prevent an injury or harm either to the child or others;

- where it is justified to physically restrain a child or to physically intervene, keep the amount of force used to the absolute minimum, taking into account the risk posed; and

- make a written record of the incident and ensure this is reported appropriately to the Responsible Person.

§ 25 — PHOTOGRAPHY

Our Photographs

(a) On some occasions, we may take photographs featuring children. We recognise that photography of children carries risks, such as:

- the potential for images to be re-used, shared or adapted in a damaging or inappropriate manner; and

- the general risk of sharing images and the impact this could have on a child's public image as they grow older.

(b) In view of these risks, we will:

- always ask for written permission from a child and their parent or guardian before taking and sharing any image of them;

- always ensure that a child and their parent or guardian are properly informed how an image will be used and shared;

- always ensure that a child's identity is protected as far as is possible within any published material;

- ask that parents, guardians, children and any other person connected to them who may wish to share any of our published images featuring other children refrain from doing so unless they have the permission of the other children and their parent or guardian; and

- always store photos in accordance with our data protection and privacy policy.

Members of the Public

(a) We recognise that members of the public may take photographs when attending our premises, events or activities.

(b) We ask that any parents, guardians and other members of the public take the following into consideration when taking photos at our premises, events or activities:

- images of other children should not be shared on social media without the permission of any children who feature in the images (where ascertainable), together with the permission of those children's parent or guardian; and

- images shared on social media should be shared cautiously, with the appropriate privacy and security settings in place.

§ 26 — REVIEWING OUR CHILD SAFE POLICIES AND PRACTICES

We regularly review our child safe policies and practices so that we can continue to improve them. In particular, we do the following:

________

§ 27 — HOW WE MAKE OUR POLICIES AND PROCEDURES AVAILABLE

(a) We strive to ensure that our child safe policies and procedures (including this Policy) are understood by all Workers and relevant stakeholders.

(b) We strive to ensure that children who engage with our Organisation, as well as their families and relevant community members, are aware of, understand and have confidence in our child safety policies and procedures (including this Policy).

(c) We make our child safe policies and procedures (including this Policy) available to children, young people and their families in the following manner:

________

§ 28 — CHILD FRIENDLY VERSION OF THIS POLICY

We have a child friendly version of this Policy available. Please ask us for a copy if you would like to view it.

§ 29 — FEEDBACK FROM CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE

We encourage children and young people to participate and provide feedback in the following manner:

________

§ 30 — HOW WE INFORM CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE ABOUT THEIR RIGHTS

(a) We use the following processes to inform children and young people about their rights, including their right to safety and the right to be listened to:

________

(b) We educate children and young people on what harm is and develop their understanding of protective practices.

§ 31 — ENGAGING WITH FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES

(a) We encourage our Workers, when engaging with children, to involve the families of those children whenever appropriate, provided that doing so will not compromise the safety of the child.

(b) When doing this, our Workers should keep in mind that in some cases children can be placed at risk by family members or members of the community, so involving the child's family could expose the child to additional risk.

(c) We use the following measures to ensure that we have effective communication and participation strategies for engaging with and responding to the diverse needs of families and communities:

________

§ 32 — RESPECTING EQUITY AND DIVERSITY

We strive to create an environment where the diverse needs and circumstances of children and young people are recognised and all children feel safe, welcome and included. We do this using the following measures:

________

§ 33 — ADMINISTRATION OF THIS POLICY

(a) This Policy was approved by: ________

(b) Position of approving person: ________

(c) This Policy was approved on: ________

(d) This Policy is due to be reviewed on: ________

(e) The following person is responsible for leading the review process for this Policy: ________

§ 34 — FURTHER INFORMATION

We thank you for the time you have taken to review and consider this Policy. If you have further questions or want to discuss any matter in connection with this Policy, please speak to a manager or supervisor.

§ 35 — ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

By signing below, you acknowledge having read and understood this Policy, and you agree to comply with it:

.......................................................
Signature of Worker

Name: ________

Position: ________

Date: ________